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Abomey used to be the former capital of the ancient kingdom of Dahomey and a bustling center of slave trading.

Snapshots of the lifestyle of the grand royal dynasty are still visible in Abomey’s majestic palaces, the tombs of long departed monarchs and the extensive-collection housing museum. The ancient palaces have the distinction of being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There are thousands of tourists who come here every year to witness the opulence of a rich monarchical legacy. The places itself are charming earthen structures that were erected by the Fons.

Bush taxis from nearby Bohicon will cost CFA 300, and from Cotonou will cost about CFA 2000 for the three hour ride. Another option is to catch a bus or train from Cotonou to Bohicon, and use bush taxis for the remainder of the trip.

The Royal Palaces of Abomey are a group of earthen structures built by the Fon people of the Dahomey Kingdom between the mid-17th and late 19th Centuries. One of the most famous and historically significant traditional sites in West Africa, the Palaces are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Each king had a new palace built for himself. They are filled with larger numbers of bas-reliefs and artwork that display everyday life, including war, sacrifices and torture methods. The palaces are:

Akaba Royal Palace

Gbehanzin Royal Palace

Palace of King Glele

Palace of King Agaja

Palace of King Tegbessu

Palace of King Agoli-Agbo

Palace of King Ghezo

Palace of King Angoglo

Palace of King Kpengla

It is also worth visiting the nearby museum:

Musée Historique d'Abomey (Historical Museum), ☎2150 0314, [1]. M-F: 8:30am-6pm, Sa-Su: 8:30am-5pm. Houses a number of artefacts and relics from the area. Some of the banners show torture and war tactics of the former Kingdom. The throne of Ghezo is exhibited, which was built on top of human skulls. Admission includes a guided tour, which takes about an hour.CFA 2500. edit